Abstract:
Much of suburbia in America today is in dire condition. This current state is the result of poor planning that has been designed for the convenience of the automobile and the economic benefit of large commercial corporations. The current layout of the suburban commercial strip is the cause for human dissatisfaction with suburban living.The suburb of Oregon, Ohio is a prime location to study this circumstance. Oregon is the largest suburb of Toledo, Ohio located adjacent to Toledo's East Side. Although Oregon is adjacent to Toledo and the suburb of Northwood, it also stretches out to a Bay of Lake Erie and out into farmland. Development has long been established in all of these areas, but currently growth is occurring in two hot spots. The first is the stereotypical suburban strip of Navarre Avenue. Navarre has for many years been the center of activity in Oregon containing several strip malls, fast food restaurants, large chain discount stores, a hospital, and other healthcare facilities. Recently a widening project has begun to increase Navarre Avenue to a five-lane road. The other growth spurt is happening on the easternmost side of Oregon into its farmland and near the popular MetroPark, Pearson Park where large subdivisions and condominiums are quickly being built.Although Oregon may see its growth as positive and necessary, it is obvious that much of the land utilized along Navarre Avenue has been underdeveloped and not designed for use by pedestrians. The continuation of such growth will not lead to proper town structure or the happiness of its residents. The current layout of Oregon poorly utilizes land and provides a generic aesthetic that does not create any sense of character connected to the history of Oregon or to the personality of its residents.Stepping back and making an effort to see Oregon for what it is, was the first step in finding a solution for the current dominance of vehicular traffic and lack of character. Pedestrian connections along Navarre Avenue from residential areas to commercial zones were created to link residents from their homes to the services provided along Navarre. A new MetroPark was sited along Navarre Avenue to bring the natural environment that Pearson Park provides to the heart of Oregon and closer to its current residents. More importantly, the layout of Navarre Avenue was redesigned into districts to better orient the users to access commercial zones and natural settings on foot, bicycle, or vehicle. This change satisfies the human need for a natural setting, thus lessening the desire of suburbanites to move further out into surrounding farmlands in search of a natural environment. Also, the organization of services provides a higher quality landscape for suburbanites because it provides an easier method of way-finding that is less stressful and aesthetically pleasing.
